Reading Reflection #1

Reading Reflection #1

After reading Chapter 1: Mapping the Journey- Seeing the Big Picture, I believe I have a better understanding about project-based learning.  What I think all teachers need to keep in mind when they begin using project-based learning is listed under the heading “Getting Ready.” Listed in order;

• ·         “your learning goals. Be ready to rethink your expectations for what students will know and do.”

• ·         “the way you talk and engage with students. Be ready to step off the stage and interact with your students differently.”

• ·         “your classroom management style. Be ready to help students become better at managing their own progress.”

• ·         “the physical arrangement of your class. Be ready to reconfigure the hardware—desks, computers, and other furnishings—to facilitate teamwork and collaboration.”

• ·         “how you think about assessment. Be ready to reevaluate what you need to pay attention to throughout the learning process.”

• ·         “what you collect. Be ready to reconsider which artifacts of learning are worth keeping.”

• ·         “how you communicate with parents and colleagues. Be ready to explain your reasoning for taking the 21^st-century project approach.”

I find all of these points that the book listed to be very important to what we should consider when taking the step into using project-based learning. If we were to all be prepared for what we want of our students, how to communicate with students, help students with managing themselves, take into account all the new equipment, understand that you will have to pay attention to more areas than others, decide what we want to collect from the lessons, and how to interact with parents and other staff members; we should be able to call ourselves “ready” for the transition.

The book does another great job of listing the overall benefits from using this style of teaching and learning. Using two paragraphs on page 21, you get all the overall benefits. “With practice, engaging in project work helps teachers and students develop new ways of working together and incorporating new ideas. Over time, your students will get better at working as a team, managing deadlines, resolving conflicts, and investigating their own questions. You will become better at facilitating their success. You will all get into a rhythm of working together well.  Finally, remember that you are creating new traditions for your students. Years from now, what do you hope they will remember about the learning experiences they shared with you?” Having that connection with your students is something that I hope all teachers would want to share with their students.

The benefits for the students can be found on page 20. These are what one teacher claims is the “extra learning.”

• ·         “Students develop good communication skills to break through cultural misunderstanding and find consensus.”

• ·         “Students develop good inquiry skills, which foster a sense of wonderment at the differences in the world.”

• ·         “Students learn to be flexible with their working hours because they know other people are relying on them to meet their deadlines.”

• ·         “Students develop a fuller understanding of how the world works and that does not just revolve around them.”

• ·         “Students achieve the feeling that, through communication with and understanding of other people, individuals can do something about changing the world.”

I think that the obvious issue that teachers and students would have to consider using project-based learning would be the availability of technology. Whether it is internet being down or not having enough computers, these cannot always be avoided. However, instead of getting upset because you no longer have a lesson for the day, make sure to have prepared backups to use in these situations. Just remember that anything can happen.

I suppose Paul Curtis is correct in his statement. “Unless the whole school is convinced this is the way to go, you’re fighting this huge uphill battle.” I believe New Technology High is a great example of the New Technology Model. To be able to use the project-based learning the whole school needs to be on board. For a school that is designed to specifically use this type of teaching and learning, would have to be the prime example of the New Technology Model.